Thursday, June 5, 2003

Medical examiner determines doctor's death a suicide
ANCHORAGE (AP) The high-profile doctor whose body was found in the Port of Valdez last week died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Valdez police said Tuesday after the state medical examiner released the results of an autopsy.

Wildlife officers go from brown shirts to blue
ANCHORAGE (AP) No decision has been made to merge Fish and Wildlife Division state troopers with Alaska State Troopers, according to the Murkowski administration, but their uniforms are about to be the same color.

Senators question oceans commission report
ANCHORAGE (AP) Alaska's U.S. senators have panned the report of a private study panel that on Wednesday made sweeping recommendations to Congress for saving the nation's oceans from pollution, commercial fishing and coastal development.

Judge rules Trident Seafoods liable for lax security
ANCHORAGE (AP) An Anchorage judge has ordered one of Alaska's biggest seafood processing companies to pay $1.25 million in damages for its role in the savage beating of a man at one of its remote processing plants in the Aleutians.

State announces study to build Juneau road
JUNEAU (AP) The state Department of Transportation said it plans to study building a road up the west side of Lynn Canal to Haines as part of the Juneau Access Project.

Former Kotzebue lawmaker Frank Ferguson dies
JUNEAU (AP) Former Kotzebue lawmaker and Alaska Native leader Frank Ferguson, who for years quietly wielded power in the Alaska Legislature as a member of the influential Bush Caucus, died Wednesday. He was 63.

American Legion post facing revocation of liquor license
SITKA (AP) Sitka's American Legion Post 13 is facing revocation of its liquor license following charges that three employees and two patrons sold drugs on the premises, the director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said Tuesday.

Green groups claim Tongass threatened by logging
ANCHORAGE (AP) A new report by environmental groups lists Alaska's Tongass National Forest as one of the 10 most endangered forests in the country because of threats from logging and other development.

Murkowski signs licenses bill
FAIRBANKS (AP) A bill continuing the state's practice of requiring Alaskans to submit Social Security numbers for driver's, fishing and other licenses has been signed into law by Gov. Frank Murkowski.

Dow closes above 9,000 after 10-month downturn
NEW YORK The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 9,000 Wednesday for the first time in nearly 10 months, soaring more than 100 points following a pair of positive economic reports.

No quiero legal action
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) A federal jury Wednesday ordered Taco Bell Corp. to pay $30.1 million to two men who claimed the fast-food chain stole their idea for the ad campaign featuring a talking Chihuahua.

Past Soldotna Chamber President will move to Bethel
Past Soldotna Chamber of Commerce President, Lisa Wimmer, Assistant Vice President Business Banker at Wells Fargo in Soldotna, is moving up to Bethel Alaska to take on the position as Branch Manager in Bethel.

Congressman Young addresses Kenai Chamber
U.S. Congressman Don Young took the opportunity to visit the Kenai Peninsula during the Memorial Day recess and during Wednesday's Kenai Chamber luncheon told those assembled that transportation is the nations number one problem.

NYLF Scholarship presented
Jackie Rainwater, a sophomore at Skyview High School, will be attending a National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) this summer in Houston, Texas. The NYLF is an opportunity for students interested in pursuing a medical career to have an up-close, real life, look at the medical profession with some of the nations most renowned physicians.

Modern art meets Margaret Thatcher
LONDON (AP) Margaret Thatcher, Britain's former prime minister, is better known as a scourge of socialists and champion of free enterprise than as a patron of the arts.

What's Happening
Best BetsEvents and ExhibitsEntertainmentUpcoming EventsFilmsDown the RoadAnchorage Events

Solutions to state problems require strong candidates
The Clarion pointed out the failure of the Legislature to deal with fiscal problems. Voters are much to blame for this, since the collective we elected them. There used to be a term "yellow dog Democrat" that referred to mostly southerners who said they would vote for a yellow dog before they voted for a Republican. The problem is now reversed in Alaska. We have a majority of voters who will only vote for a Republican no matter how poor a candidate they may be.

Contributions make bus 'road-e-o' a success
Laidlaw Transit Inc. and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District would like to thank the following merchants and individuals for their generous contributions, which helped to make this year's KPBSD School Bus Road-e-o a huge success

Historical society appreciates community support for sale
The board of the Kasilof Historical Society would like to thank all those who participated in our second annual garage sale, both those who donated and those who spent their money! It was a great success and goes a long way toward our goal of having a museum.

Kenai after-grad party committee appreciates donations, support
This year's committee for Kenai Central High School's After-Grad Bash would like to thank all the businesses, parents and yes even the students of our community, for making it a terrific night! Sure, there were a few glitches, but overall, we feel it was a success.

Youth Restoration Corps gears up for summer
The first day of the Youth Restoration Corps 2003 program was June 2, and I'm happy to be back from Juneau and getting ready to work on the river this year with a dozen great youth who are ready to go restore some habitat on the Russian River and Cooper Creek.

Connections wishes graduates, families well
I would like to acknowledge the 2003 graduates of the Connections Home School Program: Roxanne Clark, Colter Demers, Lisa Hansen, Daniel Towner and Sarah Williamson. These students participated in Connections' first official graduation ceremony that took place May 14.

FORCE: City recreation center should stay under public control
Friends of the Kenai Recreation Center (FORCE) is a group of Kenai residents and voters that formed recently to oppose the city of Kenai administration's plan to turn over the Kenai Recreation Center to a private group, the Boys and Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula, beginning July 1.

Volunteers, participants create successful Tsalteshi triathlon
As race director, I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the 2003 Tsalteshi Trails Triathlon a huge success. Countless hours of time were spent preparing the course and organizing the event, so we could welcome more than 230 participants for this year's races.

Consolidation receives unanimous vote
The consolidation of Nikiski and North Star elementary schools became a lock Monday night after a unanimous vote from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District's Board of Education.

Assembly trims 2004 budget
Several attempts to reduce the general mill levy were thwarted Tuesday evening at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting, while the Central Peninsula General Hospital service area received a half-mill increase. The general tax levy will remain at 6.5 mills.

Where are the tourists?
The outlook for this year's RV tourism on the Kenai Peninsula depends on where you go and who you talk to. RV parks in the Kenai area are seeing a decline in bookings, while the Seward area seems to be this year's RV mecca.

Kenai police install new cameras
The Kenai Police Department has begun its Project REDD record every drunk driver with the aid of new digital video cameras recently installed in every patrol vehicle in the city.

Fund-raiser planned for victim of accident
The condition of a 14-year-old Nikiski girl seriously injured when she was hit by a car two weeks ago is improving. However, the bills for her care and rehabilitation are just beginning.

Homer DMV gets ax
As Alaskans await Gov. Frank Murkowski's anticipated slashing of the budget approved two weeks ago by the state Legislature, some people in Homer already are feeling the cuts.

Marjorie Ruth Thomson Saffell
Kenai resident Marjorie Ruth Thomson Saffell died Friday, May 30, 2003, at her home surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. She was 70.

Peter I. Elvsaas Sr.
Lifelong Seldovia resident Peter I. Elvsaas Sr. died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at the South Peninsula General Hospital Long-Term Care in Homer. He was 72.

Oilers get save in Twins' victory
Peninsula Oilers Baseball Inc. has stepped up to save the season of the American Legion Twins after American Legion Kenai Post #20 dropped its sponsorship of the Twins this year.

Joseph G. Widman
Former Sterling educator and commercial fisher Joseph G. Widman, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Providence Alaska Medical Center after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. He was 76.

Will Arab leaders rein in militants?
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt Arab leaders have been reluctant to take on Islamic militants who attack Israel, considered heroes by many of their people. The question now is whether they will follow through on new promises to rein in violent radicals in the name of peace.

Truth of hunger; Day brings awareness to stigmatized problem
If the United States is the land of plenty, then Alaska, especially the Kenai Peninsula, must be the place of abundance. With healthy fish and game populations, awe-inspiring natural beauty and conditions ripe for gardening (however short the growing season), the peninsula can rightfully lay claim to being the paradise of the North.

Spurs clip Nets for Game 1 win
SAN ANTONIO Check out Tim Duncan's phenomenal stat line from Game 1 of the NBA Finals: at least three celebratory muscle flexes, one screaming argument, countless words of encouragement and the starring role in one big win for his San Antonio Spurs.